2025 Water for Texas Conference: Full Schedule

9:00am CST

The Past, Present, and Future of Direct Potable Reuse in Texas

Tuesday January 28, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am CST

According to the 2022 State Water Plan, reuse accounted for nearly 4 percent of total water supplies for Texas in 2020 and is expected to grow to approximately 14 percent by 2070. Implementing direct potable reuse contributes significantly toward a sustainable water future for Texas. Learn how some Texas communities have implemented this water supply strategy and explore critical factors that impact its success.

Speakers

Ellen McDonald, PhD, PE

Vice President of Operations, Plummer

Ellen serves as the vice president of operations and the water planning practice leader at Plummer. She has more than 35 years of experience in the areas of water reuse and water supply planning. In addition to her involvement in the planning and implementation of numerous reuse projects... Read More →

Allison Strube, P.E.

Chairwoman, Region 9 Upper Colorado Regional Flood Planning Group

Allison Strube joined the Colorado River Municipal Water District in September 2022. She began her career as a project engineer for the City of San Angelo in 2012, then became the assistant director of utilities, and in 2018 she was promoted to the director of water utilities. Allison... Read More →

Gilbert Trejo, P.E.

Vice President of Operations and Technical Services, El Paso Water

Gilbert Trejo oversees engineering, operations, and technical services at El Paso Water. He previously served as chief technical officer and chief operations officer for treatment and production. Trejo is also a past chair and former board member for the WateReuse Association and... Read More →

Tuesday January 28, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am CST
Zlotnik 5/6

Breakout Session, Water Supply and Flood Planning: Navigating a Resilient Tomorrow

10:30am CST

Filtered Down: Exploring Wastewater Reclamation for Aquifer Management

Tuesday January 28, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

Zlotnik 5/6

Water scarcity is one of the greatest challenges we face today, requiring a variety of approaches to anticipate and meet the needs of future generations. Ongoing drought, increased water demand, and population growth continue to stress aquifer and groundwater supplies across the state. Join panelists to discuss how pairing reclaimed wastewater with aquifer recharge and aquifer storage and recovery could address mounting water demands.

Speakers

Lorrie Council, P.G.

Water Policy and Underground Injection Control Manager, Ground Water Protection Council

Lorrie Council joined the Ground Water Protection Council in 2022 as the water policy and underground injection control (UIC) manager, with a national focus on water and underground injection control regulatory programs. Lorrie works to support state agency regulatory programs nationwide... Read More →

Justin Mattingly

Water Reuse Program, Environmental Protection Agency

Justin Mattingly is a board-certified environmental scientist with the water reuse program in the Office of Water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He works on coordinating water reuse activity across the agency and the implementation of the national water reuse action... Read More →

Michael Milczarek

Program Director, GeoSystems Analysis, Inc.

Mike Milczarek has more than 30 years of experience in developing, implementing, and managing vadose zone, hydrogeologic, and geochemical studies. His technical expertise includes groundwater recharge processes, large scale field instrumentation and monitoring, modeling surface water-groundwater... Read More →

Tuesday January 28, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
Zlotnik 5/6

Breakout Session, Water Supply and Flood Planning: Navigating a Resilient Tomorrow

1:15pm CST

Investing Capital: PPPs Funding the Future

Tuesday January 28, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST

Zlotnik 5/6

Rising costs of infrastructure, increasing water demands, and governmental constraints have led to greater need for non-traditional financing structures. Public-private partnerships have grown in popularity as a method to leverage private-sector funds to meet public needs, but there are few such partnerships in Texas to implement imperative water projects. This session will explore how Texas communities can pursue collaborations to develop water infrastructure projects and how project risks and responsibilities can be negotiated.

Speakers

Stephen Auton-Smith

Senior Managing Director, Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors, LLC

Stephen leads Ernst & Young’s environmental infrastructure team and has more than 20 years of experience advising owners and developers on infrastructure projects in the water, sanitation, and energy sectors. He has a strong record in financial and commercial structuring, procurement... Read More →

Michael Esparza

City Manager, City of Alice

Michael Esparza has served as the city manager of Alice since 2018. His experience in public administration includes more than 11 years as an elected city council member, including four years serving as mayor pro tem. He also has business experience in such industries as insurance... Read More →

Michael Irlbeck

Director of Business Development, EPCOR

Since 2015, Michael has been responsible for developing private investment opportunities for EPCOR in the United States. Most recently, Michael originated the state-of-the-art industrial water supply and water reclamation projects serving Samsung’s new $45 billion semiconductor... Read More →

Jorianne Jernberg

Director of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act management division, Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency

Jorianne Jernberg is the director of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act management division where she is spearheading the implementation of a federal infrastructure bank at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency overseeing the origination, underwriting, negotiation... Read More →

Tuesday January 28, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Zlotnik 5/6

Breakout Session, Business of Water: Integrating Industry Insights

8:30am CST

Pass the Salt: Deciphering Desalination

Wednesday January 29, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST

Zlotnik 5/6

Brackish groundwater and seawater are largely untapped water sources with great potential. As more communities consider brackish and/or seawater desalination as a strategy to meet future water needs, there are some challenges to overcome. This panel will examine the role of desalination in Texas' water future and the technologies and innovations that shape its path to implementation.

Speakers

Charles Ortiz, P.E.

District Engineer, Laguna Madre Water District

Charles Ortiz is the district engineer for the Laguna Madre Water District, implementing water and sewer system improvements since 2011. Job duties have included capital planning, design, and construction management for water treatment and distribution as well as wastewater treatment... Read More →

Tom Pankratz

Editor and Consultant, Global Water Intelligence

Tom Pankratz is a Houston-based independent consultant and the editor of Global Water Intelligence’s weekly water desalination report. Formerly a vice president of CH2M Hill (now Jacobs), and a director with U.S. Filter/Veolia Water, he has been a desalter since 1980 and has served... Read More →

Art Ruiz

Chief Plant Manager, El Paso Water

Art has over 43 years of experience in water treatment and operations, including eight years in shipboard water operations with the U.S. Navy, 20 years in surface water treatment, and 15 years in reverse osmosis and well operations. He has an associate degree in water technology from... Read More →

Wednesday January 29, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST
Zlotnik 5/6

Breakout Session, Innovation and Legacy: Embracing New Solutions

9:45am CST

Technoloogy Toolbox: Water Management in the Digital Age

Wednesday January 29, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CST

Zlotnik 5/6

This panel will examine the potential of AI and the adoption of digital tools in water management. Many industries are considering the integration of digital twin technology, drones, and other innovations to solve complex issues while recognizing the need for effective data management and robust cybersecurity. Experts will discuss the risks of technological stagnation and share practical advice for embracing digital advancements.

Speakers

Greg Eyerly

Houston Water Director, Houston Public Works

Greg Eyerly assumed leadership of Houston Water in November 2023. After serving in the Army, Greg graduated from Portland State University with an undergraduate degree in general science and has a master’s in business from Washington State University. He has over 30 years of water... Read More →

Barry Liner, Ph.D., P.E.

Chief Technology Officer, The Water Council

Dr. Barry Liner has been fueling his passion for water innovation by mentoring young global entrepreneurs at UNLEASH Innovation Lab, promoting startups at the Water Council, and having the good fortune to work with some of the best water minds during his time as chief technology officer... Read More →

Richard Loeffler

Client Solutions Manager, Xylem

Rich Loeffler has worked in the water sector for 17 years and currently serves as a client solutions manager for Xylem's data and intelligence offerings. He's responsible for collaborating with utility partners and clients to develop wide ranging solutions to provide operational data... Read More →

Wednesday January 29, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CST
Zlotnik 5/6

Breakout Session, Innovation and Legacy: Embracing New Solutions